CMT Blog: Archive

Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer possesses that rare gift of matching bright melodies to bummer lyrics. That's especially true on her new album, Oh Little Fire, released last month after taking time off for environmental advocacy in her home country. It must have given her a lot of time to think because her new songs are focused, intriguing and ultimately satisfying for her longtime fans (like me). As bright as the melodies are, the lyrics are often illuminated by the embers of a breakup. She lightly notes on the first track that "I was the thief/Made off/but not with everything." On the peppy "Late Bloomer," she asserts, "From the ship that we sailed with everyone on it/I said, 'Give me the land, I know what I want and where I want it.'" It helps that Harmer's voice is sweet and likable, even when she's calling somebody out. And to her credit, she does get a little more lovey-dovey on "One Match" and "Captive." If you're an otherwise optimistic person who can't quite give yourself over to hopeless summer love, you might pack Oh Little Fire on your next road trip.